D2R Warlock Skill Trees Guide: Chaos, Demon & Eldritch

Ben Author

Created - 25.02.2026 Updated - 25.02.2026

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The Warlock is the latest addition to Diablo II: Resurrected. You can gain access to him by purchasing the Reign of the Warlock DLC, which is an expansion that costs $25 if you have the base game. If this is your first time and you don't have the base game installed yet, you can get Diablo II: Resurrected - Infernal Edition instead. This costs $40 upfront, but you might get some discounts whenever there is a Steam Sale going on.

Having said that, the Warlock is the first class to be introduced in Diablo II in 25 years. It is a hybrid between the Sorceress and Necromancer. In other words, the Warlock is capable of destroying enemies with chaos- and fire-based spells, or summon demonic monsters that will do those for him.

Make sure to equip your Warlock with the Best D2R Ladder Items, especially since Season 13 has just begun. In this article, I will go over the different Warlock Skill Trees so that you know which ones to spend your skill points on when playing this new class.

D2R Warlock Class Identity: What Makes Him Unique?

If you ask me how I would describe the new Warlock Class in Diablo II: Resurrected, it would be a character that has the ability to cast destructive spells, while also having the power to control demonic monsters at will.

In the next sections, we'll explore the different skills in greater detail so that you will know which ones to allocate if you are planning to play the Warlock Class in Season 13 (and beyond).

Demon Skill Tree

The Warlock's Demon Skill Tree is where you will find all of his abilities that have something to do with demon summoning and demon binding. Let's go over each of his skills, shall we?

Summon Goatman

Summon Goatman is one of the first abilities available to the Warlock. As the name of the skill implies, it enables the Warlock to summon a powerful Goatman that hits enemies at melee range.

Despite the fact that it's not explicitly stated in the tooltip, putting more skill points into the Summon Goatman skill gives the said minion the ability to do the following:

• Level 2: Stun
• Level 3: Berserk
• Level 4: Frenzy
• Level 5: Cleave

Although a level 5 Summon Goatman won't be necessary in the late game, it certainly becomes a very good leveling skill, especially if you want to play a Demon Warlock build in Diablo II: Resurrected - RoTW.

Summon Tainted

Another good minion for leveling, the Summon Tainted is the fire variant of the regular Tainted. As such, it not only hurls damaging fireballs at the enemy, but is also able to provide you with additional fire resistance with its innate Resist Fire Aura.

In addition, Summon Tainted grants a 20% fire damage boost when consumed via the aptly named “Consume” ability. This makes it a great companion when you are playing the Fire Warlock Build in D2R Season 13.

Summon Defiler

The Summon Defiler skill lets the Warlock call forth a Defiler minion that can bind enemies together to take shared damage. It’s not a strong minion, per se, but it has value when you consume it. Why? It grants a 20% increase in magic damage, which is perfect if you are trying to play a build that is centered around the Miasma Bolt.

Bind Demon

Among the skills available to the Warlock, Bind Demon is definitely one of the most popular. Bind Demon enables you to “bind” any demon-type monster in the game, except for act bosses and the Prime Evils.

Some of the monsters that are typically bound using the Bind Demon skill include Hephasto the Armorer and Lister the Tormentor. This is because the former can spawn with the Conviction Aura, while the latter has strong defenses that make it superior in Hell Difficulty.

That said, you have to level up your Bind Demon skill if you ever use it to get a “second mercenary.” Equipping items that can provide “+ to Skills” surely helps, which is why some people wear The Stone of Jordan or other similar items precisely because of that.

Consume

The Warlock also has the ability to get buffs from his summoned/bound demons by using the Consume skill. When used on the Goatman, Tainted, or Defiler, the Warlock gains the following bonuses:

• Goatman
  • 6% Crushing Blow
  • 160% Enhanced Damage
• Tainted
  • 20% Fire Damage to Spells
  • -15% Fire Resistance to nearby enemies
• Defiler
  • 20% Magic Damage to Spells
  • -10% Magic Resistance to nearby enemies

It is important to note that the Warlock can only summon three demons with a maxed-out Demonic Mastery (passive skill). As a result, any demon you have consumed will count towards the limit. Therefore, if you want to retain the buffs those consumed demons provide, make sure to limit your summoned demons to two.

Chaos Skill Tree

The Chaos Skill Tree is composed of the Warlock's destructive spells. These spells deal either fire damage or magic damage, so utilizing gear that boosts these damage types will definitely help!

Miasma Bolt

The Miasma Bolt is a level 1 skill that can actually help you get through Normal Difficulty without an issue. This is because it deals magic damage, both on the initial impact and the ensuing damage over time effect.

Miasma Chain

Another strong skill early on, the Miasma Chain can be cast on the ground or at the enemy. Typically, you'll cast it on the ground so that you are tethered to a permanent surface. After that, simply walk around the area and “hit” enemies with the chain. This deals incredible damage, even more than the Miasma Bolt. Hence, allocating more than five skill points to this is a viable strategy for early-game leveling.

Abyss

Abyss is one of the spells that is available to you at level 30 (the other being Apocalypse). Abyss serves two purposes. First, it deals massive amounts of damage. Second, it prevents enemies from chasing you because the tear that Abyss creates sucks enemies in. Whether you invest more skill points into this or focus more on Apocalypse, the Abyss still warrants a spot in any Warlock Build in D2R for its utility.

Ring of Fire

Fans of the original Diablo game will probably recognize this next spell. Ring of Fire is quite similar to the Sorcerer spell “Immolation,” but it's better and more destructive. This spell is such a beautiful skill to use for leveling because it hits monsters around you with every cast. Use this until you're level 18.

Flame Wave

Unlocked at level 18, Flame Wave replaces Ring of Fire as the primary spell for Fire Warlock Builds in Diablo II: Resurrected. Flame Wave deals damage twice: once for the initial wave and again on the trails of fire that it leaves behind.

Apocalypse

If Abyss deals magic damage, Apocalypse is the fire equivalent spell that is also available at level 30. When cast, Apocalypse prompts you to create a massive AoE that deals fire damage to enemies that are within the circle. Monsters are immediately damaged by the skill as soon as they enter the circle, so it’s not only the star that deals damage.

On top of that, Apocalypse is best used in high-density maps, such as the Secret Cow Level or in Terror Zones. Make sure to round up the enemies first before casting. While the skill is on cooldown, you can use Flame Wave and Ring of Fire during the downtime.

Eldritch Skill Tree

The Eldritch Skill Tree allows the Warlock to levitate, manipulate, and utilize his equipped weapon, depending on the skill that is used. Here is a brief rundown of the skills available to you on the Warlock's Eldritch Skill Tree:

• Hex Bane: This skill adds magic damage to your weapon. It also reduces the enemy's defense after being attacked by you.
• Hex Purge: Enemies attacked by your hexed weapon will have a chance to explode when hit. Although it sounds good on paper, it’s not really that useful while leveling, especially in the endgame.
• Cleave: As the name suggests, you swing your weapon and hit enemies in an arc in front of you. It is relatively useful in the first 10 levels but falls off rather quickly in terms of damage.
• Echoing Strike: One of the most overpowered Warlock Skills in the game, Echoing Strike is a skill that prompts you to throw your equipped weapon towards the enemy (similar to a boomerang). Equip your Warlock with a weapon that has the Insight Runeword, as the damage of Echoing Strike scales off of it (as well as from additional skill levels).
• Blade Warp: The Warlock’s answer to the Sorceress’ Teleport. Although this skill can be used to damage enemies, it’s mainly cast for moving around (a viable replacement for Teleport).

FAQ

What is the Best Warlock Skill Tree in D2R?

Chaos Skill Tree, especially when focusing on Flame Wave and Apocalypse.

Can I Mix All Three Trees Effectively?

Yes. Actually, that is what the best Warlock Builds in D2R Season 13 are doing.

Which Tree is Best for Solo Play?

Chaos and Demon.

Are Summons Affected by + Skills Gear?

Yes. That is why you should get D2R items that offer + to Skill Levels.